Effects of compatibilizers and testing speeds on the mechanical properties of organophilic montmorillonite filled polyamide 6/polypropylene nanocomposites

Abstract

AbstractIn the present study, the fracture properties of different types of organophilic montmorillonite (OMMT) filled polyamide 6/polypropylene nanocomposites was investigated. Two types of compatibilizers, i.e., maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PP‐g‐MA) and maleic anhydride grafted styrene‐ethylene/butylene‐styrene (SEBS‐g‐MA) were used to compatibilize these systems. The tensile properties were studied through tensile test at two different testing speeds; 50 and 500 mm/min whereas the fracture properties were determined using single‐edge‐notch‐3 point‐bending (SEN‐3PB) specimens at three different testing speeds; 1, 100, and 500 mm/min. The presence of both PP‐g‐MA and SEBS‐g‐MA compatibilizers improved the tensile and fracture properties of nanocomposites due to the compatibilizing effect of both compatibilizers. SEBS‐g‐MA compatibilizer seemed to be more effective in improving the fracture toughness of nanocomposites than PP‐g‐MA especially at high testing speed. This was due to the elastomeric nature of SEBS‐g‐MA, which can provide a better toughening effect than the relatively harder PP‐g‐MA. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 50:1493–1504, 2010. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers